projectile

1 of 2

noun

pro·​jec·​tile prə-ˈjek-tᵊl  -ˌtī(-ə)l 

chiefly British ˈprä-jik-ˌtī(-ə)l

1

: a body projected by external force and continuing in motion by its own inertia

especially : a missile for a weapon (such as a firearm)

2

: a self-propelling weapon (such as a rocket)

projectile

2 of 2

adjective

1

: projecting or impelling forward

a projectile force

2

: capable of being thrust forward

Examples of projectile in a Sentence

Noun

The cannon fires a ten-pound projectile.

Someone threw a projectile at her car.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Japan’s laser tech Japan plans to follow the initial detection and tracking trials with attempts to intercept live projectiles over water in 2026, officials said. —Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 4 Dec. 2025

Other projectile powers satisfy in and out of combat, like the ice shot that extinguishes fires and freezes foes in their tracks. —PC Magazine, 2 Dec. 2025

Adjective

Survivor 49 kicked off Wednesday night with two-hour premiere filled with projectile vomit, blatant puzzle copying, and a new bromance for the ages. —Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2025

Hopefully, there won’t be any more projectile dildos threatening the safety of players moving forward. —Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 30 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1564, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1715, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing projectile

• projectile vomiting

Rhymes for projectile

• erectile
• anorectal
• colorectal
• dialectal
• rectal

Kids Definition

projectile

noun

pro·​jec·​tile

prə-ˈjek-tᵊl

: something (as a bullet or rocket) thrown or driven forward especially from or for use as a weapon